along with his head, neck, back, and tail, all level 

 an old trick of Jess's which generally meant trouble 

 for some one. Slowing down as he neared the Shan- 

 he walked quietly on until he headed off the 

 leader, and there he stood across the path. It was 

 just the same as before : the boys, finding that he did 

 nothing, merely stepped aside to avoid bumping 

 against him. They were boys taking back their pur- 

 chases to their kraals to dazzle the eyes of the ignorant 

 with the wonders of civilisation gaudy blankets, collec- 

 tions of bright tin billies and mugs, tin plates, three- 

 legged pots, clothing, hats, and even small tin trunks 

 painted brilliant yellow, helped to make up their huge 

 bundles. The last boy was wearing a pair of Royal 

 Artillery trousers ; and I have no doubt he regarded it 

 ever afterwards as nothing less than a calamity that they 

 were not safely stowed away in his bundle for a kaffir 

 would sacrifice his skin rather than his new pants any 

 day. It was from the seat of these too ample bags 

 that Jock took a good mouthful ; and it was the boy's 

 frantic jump, rather than Jock's tug, that made the 

 piece come out. The sudden fright and the attempts 

 to face about quickly caused several downfalls ; the 

 clatter of these spread the panic ; and on top of it 

 all came Jock's charge along the broken line, and the 

 excited shouts of those who thought they were going 

 to be worried to death. 



Jim had burst into great bellows of laughter and 

 excited but quite superfluous shouts of encourage- 

 ment to Jock, who could not have heard a trumpet 

 at ten yards. 



216 



